ACT II

TIME: _One year later. Christmas Eve._

SCENE: _Curtain rises showing_ TOINETTE _and_ MARIE _seated, sewing_; JEANNETTE _sits upon the floor, leaning against_ TOINETTE'S _knee_; MARC _leans over the back of her chair_; PIERRE _sits in the big chair rocking and looking on. All are singing a Christmas carol. Enter_ MOTHER, _pausing a moment in doorway to watch and smile at the group._

MOTHER. Come, chickabiddies, it is time to stop work.

MARIE [_going to_ MOTHER]. Oh, Mother, must we stop now? Toinette was just going to tell us the Christmas story about the Shepherds and the Star in the East.

MOTHER. It is supper-time now, and Toinette must set the table. [_Exit._]

PIERRE. And after supper comes bedtime. Oh, dear.

TOINETTE [_cheerfully folding her work_]. Never mind, Pierre, I'll tell it to you to-morrow.

MARC. That'll be Christmas day, Toinette. I wish you could tell it on Christmas Eve.

TOINETTE. Oh, I think I can tell it better on Christmas day, Marc. Now we all have something to do,--let's get to work. Who will fetch water for me to-night?

MARC _and_ PIERRE [_springing for the pitcher_]. I will, I will.

MARC. It's my turn, Pierre.

PIERRE. No, you nearly always get water for Toinette. I'm going to.

TOINETTE. Let Pierre get the water, Marc, and you go and cut the wood.

MARC _and_ PIERRE. All right, Toinette. [_Exeunt._]

MARIE. What can we do for you, Toinette, dear?

TOINETTE. Nothing just now, I think. [TOINETTE _is spreading the cloth and setting the bowls and spoons._]

JEANNETTE. But _we_ want to help, too, dear Toinette. [_Clings to her skirt._]

TOINETTE. I'll tell you what. I'd rather send my two little helpers in to see what they can do for poor busy Mother. She needs them more than I do. [_Exit_ JEANNETTE.]

MARIE [_following_]. Won't that be helping you too, Toinette?

TOINETTE. Yes, dear. [_Exit_ MARIE.] How good the children are to-night! I do think they are the best brothers and sisters a girl ever had. [_Lighting the candle._] And I think they love me more than they ever used to. Oh, I'm so glad! [_Tap at the door._] There is someone knocking. [_Goes to the door._]

HOLLYBERRY [_bowing low_]. How do you do, Toinette? A Merry Christmas to you.

TOINETTE. Oh, how wonderful. It's Hollyberry again, and I was just thinking about you. Won't you come in?

HOLLYBERRY. Just for a moment. [_Enter_ HOLLYBERRY. TOINETTE _closes the door._] I've brought you a Christmas present, Toinette. [_Holds out cloak and fern-seed bag._]

TOINETTE [_retreating, hands behind her_]. Oh, no, no, no! I know what those are, and I don't want them. Oh! Hollyberry, they made me so unhappy last year.

HOLLYBERRY. You didn't like the elves' gift, then?

TOINETTE. Oh, it was horrid--I _hated_ it.

HOLLYBERRY [_severely_]. Do you call that being grateful?

TOINETTE [_confused_]. Oh, no--I mean, yes--that is, it was very kind of you--but I didn't like it. Oh, dear!

HOLLYBERRY [_kindly_]. Never mind, Toinette, I'm only teasing you now. And I advise you to take the fern seed. You will like it better this year, I'm sure.

TOINETTE [_anxiously_]. Truly?

HOLLYBERRY. Truly. [TOINETTE _takes bag and cloak._] And if you like it we are going to ask a favor of you. We want you to make us some fern-seed broth.

TOINETTE. Fern-seed broth?

HOLLYBERRY. Yes, elves are very fond of it, but they don't get any very often, because it has to be made over a fire, and you see we're afraid of fire. We're so little and light, we might be blown in and burned up.

TOINETTE. But how shall I make it?

HOLLYBERRY. It's very easy. We'll show you how. And now, good-by. We'll come in by and by when the children are in bed. [_Exit with a bow._]

TOINETTE [_looking gravely at cloak and bag_]. Oh, do I dare use them? I have tried to be kinder--I know the children love me more---- Yes, I will. [_Runs out. Boys singing carol in the distance. Enter boys singing, with pitcher and wood. Enter_ MOTHER, MARIE, _and_ JEANNETTE.]

MOTHER. Why, the supper is all ready, but where is that busy bee of ours, Toinette? [_Goes to door as if to call._]

PIERRE [_catches her arm_]. Oh, Mother, wait a moment; don't call her yet! You know we've made her some Christmas gifts, and we want to put them on her plate and surprise her.

MOTHER. Run and get them.

MARC [_under his breath_]. Hurry, quick, everybody.

[_Exit children in haste._ MOTHER _takes saucepan from fire and fills bowls. Enter children singing carol, each bearing a homemade gift. They place the presents about_ TOINETTE'S _place, and all take their places at the table, sitting with folded hands until hymn is ended. During the singing_ TOINETTE _enters, dressed in cloak, and stands near door (R.), her hands clasped in pleasure at the sight._

MARC [_looking towards the door_]. Oh, I wish Toinette would hurry.

MARIE. Won't she be surprised?

PIERRE. And won't she _look_ jolly surprised, too? I love to see Toinette when she's surprised. Her eyes get so big and shiny, and she just stares.

MARC. Andrew, the blacksmith's son, thinks his sister is prettier than our Toinette, but _I_ don't.

PIERRE [_in great scorn_]. Aw! I should think not. Our Toinette is just the prettiest girl in the village.

MARIE. And the very nicest, too!

MOTHER [_smiling_]. And Toinette is Mother's right hand. We all love Toinette! Don't we?

TOINETTE [_softly_]. Oh, the dear little things! I can't wait a minute longer. [_Exit quickly._]

CHILDREN [_calling_]. Toinette! Toinette! [_Enter_ TOINETTE _without cloak. Shows great surprise._]

CHILDREN. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Toinette!

TOINETTE. Oh, oh! what do I see? [_Sits down in her place._] Oh, did you make these lovely things, children?

PIERRE. Yes, mademoiselle, we did!

MARC. Every one of them.

MARIE. Nobody helped us.

JEANNETTE. All for you, Toinette, all for you! [_Leaves her chair and throws her arms around_ TOINETTE.]

TOINETTE [_kissing her_]. Oh, thank you, thank you! How _beautifully_ these are made. [_Looks them over one at a time._] How good everyone is. I'm so happy I don't know what to do.

PIERRE. And to-morrow's Christmas! Hurrah!

MOTHER. Yes, dear, but if you don't go to bed and to sleep, Christmas won't come. [_Takes_ JEANNETTE _by the hand._] We will leave you to finish, Toinette.

CHILDREN. Good-night, Toinette!

TOINETTE. Good-night, everyone! [MARIE _and_ JEANNETTE _throw their arms about_ TOINETTE.]

MARIE. Good-night again, dear Toinette! [_Exeunt all but_ TOINETTE, _who clears the table, shakes off crumbs, and sets fresh bowls and spoons. The children are heard singing carol. When all is ready and the song is done_, TOINETTE _goes to outer door and looks out. After a moment the elves rush in._]

ELVES. Here we are, Toinette, here we are!

HOLLYBERRY. Now let's proceed to business. Where is the saucepan, Toinette! Icicle, give me the honey-dew; Mistletoe, you have the fern seed.

[TOINETTE _produces the saucepan and the elves crowd around her and hand her the articles named. The honey-dew is supposed to be in a jar--or pitcher--or anything curious or unusual in appearance; the fern seed in a quaint box._

HOLLYBERRY. Now, Evergreen, give me the holly stick she must stir it with.

[TOINETTE _puts it on the fire, the elves watching with great interest._

HOLLYBERRY. It's very simple, but it must be made with great care.

MISTLETOE. You must always stir it the same way!

EVERGREEN. Or else it will curdle.

ICICLE. And you must _never_ let it scorch!

[TOINETTE _bends over fire, stirring broth. A very gay waltz in very quick time is played softly outside, and the four elves dance and tumble about, coming up one at a time to peep over_ TOINETTE'S _shoulder. They show great fear of the fire, however._

TOINETTE. Now, little Elves, the feast is ready!

ELVES. Oh, joy! Oh, joy! [_All seat themselves at table_, TOINETTE _pours out broth, and they eat. Music continues_, TOINETTE _refills bowls, and elves drink from them, tipping their heads far back and making grotesque motions. Music grows fainter. Elves rise and bow to_ TOINETTE.]

ELVES. Thank you, Toinette! Thank you!

EVERGREEN. We've had a merry feast.

MISTLETOE. And fairies are never ungrateful.

ICICLE. When you need us, you'll find us ready.

[EVERGREEN, MISTLETOE, _and_ ICICLE _go outside and stand about door._ HOLLYBERRY _remains within._

TOINETTE. But I haven't thanked you at all!

HOLLYBERRY. No need of that, Toinette. [_He brushes door-post with his holly wand._] Be lucky, house! We are the luck-bringers, and we have feasted here! [_Touches_ TOINETTE _on the head and hands._] Be lucky, Toinette! Good temper, and kindness, and unselfishness are the very best good luck, after all. Now, good-by!

ELVES. Good-by, good-by! Merry Christmas to all!

[_Exeunt._ TOINETTE _closes the door and goes slowly to hearth, where she sits down on floor, resting her arm on a chair and her head on her hand._

TOINETTE [_softly_]. The fairies have been here, and they have taught me a lesson.... After all, it isn't the fairies who make the children love me, or me love the children.... I think--yes, I'm sure--that it is Christmas that makes us all love each other!

[_Her head drops, and she falls asleep. The children's voices are heard, singing, very softly and distinctly, the last verse of the carol_:

"Thank God on Christmas morning! Thank God, O children dear."

CURTAIN

NOTES ON COSTUME AND SETTING

The children are dressed in peasant costumes, the girls in bright skirts and stockings, white guimpes, black velvet bodices, and Normandy caps; the boys in full trousers, bright stockings, vests of green or blue, fastening in the back, white shirts with full sleeves, and toboggan caps. Toinette wears shoes with buckles; the others may wear the same, or sabots.

MOTHER. Plain dark dress, with full skirt; kerchief on her shoulders, and a white cap.

The magic "Cloak of Darkness" brought by the Elves for Toinette, is a long cape, with hood attached, made of light gray canton flannel.

The Fern-seed Bag may be made of a bit of the same material, or of the colors of Hollyberry's costume.

The Elves wear harlequin costumes in two shades of the same color, with tall pointed hoods, and long shoes with toes turned up. Gilt bells on all points of collar, jacket, and hood. See illustration. Sateen is perhaps the best material for these little suits, as it comes in a great variety of rich shades, but cheaper goods may be found.

HOLLYBERRY. Dark red and scarlet. He carries a holly branch in lieu of a wand.

MISTLETOE. Brown and yellow. In Act II he carries an odd box supposed to be full of fern seed.

EVERGREEN. Dark and light green. In Act II he produces the holly stick for stirring the broth.

ICICLE. Dark and light blue. In Act II he carries a small jar or pitcher,--something curious or unusual in appearance,--which is supposed to contain the honey-dew.

Instead of the gilt bells, the points of these suits may be trimmed with bits of holly, mistletoe, evergreen, and glass icicles, as indicated by the names.

In setting the stage, it is effective to make small windows, with diamond-shaped panes, and white sash-curtains, placing small pots of scarlet geraniums on the sills.

The song is "Good News on Christmas Morning," from _St. Nicholas Songs_ (Century Company).

Where music is indicated through the play, any part of the carol is sung, except the last verse, which is used only once, just before the last curtain. For the Elves' dance, the Pizzicato from the ballet "Sylvia" by Delibes, Dvorak's "Humoresque," or a waltz, very lightly played, may be used.

TOM'S PLAN

IN TWO ACTS

CHARACTERS

FATHER WRIGHT. MOTHER WRIGHT. PHIL } DAISY } CHARLIE } The little Wrights. TOM } DOT } SARAH, the nurse. SANTA CLAUS.

TOM'S PLAN